Is cruise embarkation process different for Cdns?

[MrsMinease]

I've noticed a post or two in the cruise section mentioning that the process for Non-US citizens is different at em- and de-barkation. Can anyone share what the differences are? Do we need to be looking for different lines in the terminal?

 

[Gigi22]

Yes, there is a different line for Canadians, and (not sure about this one) for other non-U.S. citizens. You will need to present your passport at check in. Other than that, especially if you have completed online check in, and have your payment form printed and signed, the process is quite painless.
Now--and this is the exception--if you have a concierge cabin, concierge trumps nationality in this case. You just let the people checking health questionnaires that you are in concierge and they will point out the concierge line for you.

Reading along--for debarkation, you just fill out the U.S. Customs form (delivered to your cabin and/or available at Guest Services on the last day of your cruise), and just after you leave the ship, you go to the line for non-U.S. citizens and have your passports and Customs forms available. Sometimes there is a line up, sometimes not. You need to keep your Customs form and passports available to give to the U.S. Customs/Immigration people as you exit the terminal building, after you have collected your luggage.

FYI, we find it simplest to hire one of the luggage porters in the terminal building, and tip generously. The porter will help you collect your luggage, put it on a dolly, take your Customs form(s) and go with you through the line and out of the building. The porter will even assist you in putting your luggage onto a bus or a cab. Well worth a good tip, IMO!

 

[networktek]

thats good to know we leave april 30

 

[LuzzBightyear]

I remember disembarking from a cruise in Ft Lauderdale two years ago, there were two lines, one for US citizens and one for non-US citizens. Our line (non-US) was extremely long, while the US Citizen line had nobody. So the Customs/Immigration officer from the US line went up and down our line asking for US citizens who may not have read the big sign and got in the wrong line. He came to us and asked if we were US citizens. We said "Nope, Canadian". He said: "Close enough, come with me" . Got though the process much faster than the Germans who were originally front of us!

 

[maryliz]

Funny, at the terminal, I told the CM I was Canadian, and she still had me go in the US citizens line? But for disembarkation, we did go in the Non-US line ... our friends were in the US line, and even though their line was longer, we ended up going through customs at pretty much the same time. LOL That customs procedure was pretty much a joke since basically we weren't declaring anything, since nothing we bought was to remain in the USA.

All in all, a very painless procedure ... nothing like the dreaded "in the dining room at 5:45AM" nightmares I had heard about in the past.

 

[sjsjbrook]

Being a Canadian it was actually easier to get through.

At the airport for checkin, there was a non US line as they were checking in the US people into their rooms at the airport and giving them their boarding number as they got on the bus. This meant their whole family had to stand in line and it was a big line.

The non US line was short and Sweet.

At the port we checked in at the Castaway club line and waited all of a minute where our passports were swiped and security photos taken. It was all short and sweet.

Getting off there was a separte line for non US and it had no one in it. It was very quick, the customs guy looked at our form and passport and we were off.

In fact we were able to get in the airport by 9am.